Patent · US Active

Control of a multi-sectored antenna system to improve channel efficiency

US7359362B2 · kind B2 · utility

44Cited by
13References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 28, 2005
Grant dateApr 15, 2008
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 22, 2026

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04W16/24
  • WIPO fieldDigital communication
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A wireless device is coupled to a multi-sector antenna that includes a plurality of different sectors, any of which can be activated to transmit and receive in a desired direction specific to that sector. Optionally, an omnidirectional antenna is included for initially establishing a wireless connection with another wireless device, such as an access point. A parameter indicative of signal quality, such as throughput or received signal strength indication (RSSI) is determined by polling with each antenna sector to establish a prioritized candidate list. If a receive Trigger becomes active in response to a parameter falling below a threshold level, a new candidate sector is selected from the current list based upon a next-best signal quality. The directionality of the multi-sector antenna provides a substantially higher data rate compared to that of the conventional omnidirectional antenna.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.